Touch screens are NICE but they also require larger screen elements(buttons) to safely use. control keys/buttons have worked for about 40 years now no reason they still can't.
Touch screens do need bigger 'buttons' and there are no physical barriers between them to help prevent pressing the adjacent button accidentally.
Another argument against touch screens is that you need a stylus or bare finger to operate them.
There are solutions to both of these drawbacks and touch screens operable by a gloved finger can be made in such a way that it is impossible to press two adjacent buttons at the same time.
However, to my knowledge, there is currently no convenient solution to the fragile nature of the membrane of the resistive type overlays.
On a console with physical controls, if there are say 20 key combinations that perform different functions, how it the content of the keys communicated to the operator? Is there a display area or keyboard overlay? If not then would there be a Cheat sheet, or does the operator just get used to the commands thru use and remember them?
As a long time AutoCAD user, I automatically press the correct function key without even thinking about it . . . well 5 or 6 of them anyway.
It seems there should be some way to combine these methods and take the best of both.